File:Meeting of Dissenters religious and political 1790 (BM 1868,0808.5916).jpg

English: A dense crowd of men fills the space between two buildings partly visible on the extreme left and right. On the left is a stone building with a closed door inscribed 'Church and State', fastened by a huge padlock inscribed 'Motive'. On the right projects the sign of the 'King's Head 1649': the decapitated head of Charles I. The political dissenters are on the left, the most prominent being Fox in Cromwellian armour, his sash inscribed 'Spirit of Cromwell' (cf. BMSat 6380, &c); he stands on a cloud to indicate that he is a ghost, and holds out a paper inscribed 'Motion to Repeal the Test and Corporation Acts', saying, "I care not what's the established Religion - not I - heaven knows I trouble the Church very little - therefore Til move the Repeal - in return - I have your interest at the general Election - and pray dont continue to preach against wenching and gaming - the Practice you know nothing about". Sheridan, who stands beside him (left), adds, "Nor hold forth against Poor Players". A paper inscribed 'Drury Lane' protrudes from his pocket. A man looking at the closed door (left) says: "We'll turn our Meetings into Chapels." The stout and jovial Dr. Towers (cf. BMSat 6246), a label inscribed 'Constitutional Society' issuing from his pocket, addresses Fox: "We'll Preach and Pray for nothing but the Constitution". A very lean and sanctimonious-looking dissenter says "Amen". Beneath this (political) group is inscribed: 'This New Coalition designed by Hope and Executed by mutual convenience'. Two men who are prominent among the religious dissenters (who all wear clerical bands) resemble Price and Priestley. Price says: "We dissent from the Church for a Living, and we get it - your Church Preachers are too drowsy - they have no fire - they have not the Spirit - they only endeavour to inform the understanding, and send their Congregation asleep, and so people are afraid of getting cold at Church for want of Company - We affect the Passions - we abuse them - we tell them they are lost Sheep - we thump the Cushion - we tell them they are d-----d, and they like it, and our Subscription seats are crowded, and so we get a living - and if we get a repeal and become equal we'll not rest till we rise Superior." A stout man on the extreme right angrily tears a paper inscribed 'Thirty nine Articles', saying, "What care I for these, give me the Fortieth Article - a good fat Living I mean". In the foreground, at the feet of the dissenting parsons, lie (right) a mitre and crown which are being attacked by serpents inscribed: 'Deism', 'Arianism', 'Presb[yterianism]', 'Socinianism', 'ism &c' and 'Republicism'. Beside these is a conspirator's dark lantern.

In the background church steeples are sketched, to each of which is attached a broom, like those attached to the masts of ships to show that they were for sale. On the roof of one of these buildings are three parsons (one a bishop) fast alseep, one of whom holds a bottle. 22 February 1790

Etching with hand-colouring